Axel Gabriel Leijonhufvud

Axel Gabriel Leijonhufvud the Elder (16 May 1755 – 9 November 1826) was a Swedish military officer and baron. He personally witnessed the horrors of the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790.

Biography Gabriel was born on 16 May 1755 outside Sundsberg as the son of Baron Peter Leijonhufvud. He began his military career at the age of eight in 1763 when he was personally appointed rustmäster in the Dowager Queen's Life Regiment by the king. He was promoted in the same year to sergeant of the same regiment. He was later promoted stabsfänrik in 1770, lieutenant in 1776 and captain in 1782.

He was captured by the Russian Army after the surrender of Sveaborg in 1808. Gabriel was appointed colonel in the Hälsinge Regiment with expectance salary in 1812. He became director of the noble estates on 1 July 1815. Axel was appointed Member of the Board of the Masonic Children's House in 1817 and of the Court of War between 1819 and 1823. He was granted the Order of Charles XIII on 28 January 1819. He died on 9 November 1826 in Stockholm and was buried in Klara Church.